iquittheaurorprogram.”

thereationisnotasloudasharryhadbeenexpeting.heountsitasagoodsignthatronleansarossthetabletowhisper-yellintohisfaeinsteadofflippingthetable.maybeitwastheshok.“what?”ablink,andthenasmile,likehewashalfhopingthatharrywasjoking.“why?”

“idon’tknow.”heraiseshishands,realizesthatmightdrawattention,andthenliesthemftonthetable.“inevergotthehohoose,youknow?noneofusdid.wejustgotthrustintothefight.”

rondidn’tgetit.hewasanger,now.thiswastheonlythingheknew.“so?”

“so,maybeidon’twanttofight.”

“whatdoyouwanttodoinstead?”

ronisn’tangry.helooksresigned,abit,likeheknewthatthiswasonlyamatteroftime.itvalidatesharry’sdeisionlikenothingelseould,thatrondidnotseemtothinkthatthiswasabadidea.“nothing.idon’twanttobeanythingrightnow.ispentsolongbeingthechosenone,thatinevergottofigureoutwhatiwouldhavewantedtodo,giventhehoie.itwasfightordie.”heswallowed,hard,beausethiswasbringingupmemoriesthathewouldrathernotthinkabout.aboutabasilisk,aboutquirrel’ssreams,aboutthefirsttimeheeverruiio’dsomeone.hewasawarrior,andhewasagoodone,butnowthefightwasdone.“ijustwanttorest.”

“igetthat.”they’refoodhasgoneold.herofthemhaseaten,anditisalreadytimeforrontostartheadingbaktotheoffie.“ido,harry.andi’mgdthatyou’retryingtomakeyourselfhappy.”apause.“buti’mnotquitting.thisreallyiswhatiwanttodo.”

harryknewthat.buthehadtoask,toputtheoptionoutthere.“don’tyouevergettiredofthefight?”

ronughs,shakeshishead,andthenmakesafist,andhisownsetofsarredlettersshinesupatharry,brightunderthelightingofthediner.iwillnotresist.